Volkswagen is showing off the customisation potential of its Amarok pickup at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. The Amarok Canyon concept is designed specifically for freestyle kayakers, intended to help the extreme sportsmen and women reach the most inaccessible regions of the globe.
The Canyon is powered by Volkswagen’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel, delivering 132 kW and 420 Nm of torque. Setting the Canyon apart from its production counterpart are a set of 35 mm wider wheel arches, making room for the 275/65 R18 all-terrain tyres tucked beneath. The big ute has also been jacked up by 40 mm and together with the larger tyres, the Amarok Canyon concept is 85 mm taller than the regular Amarok.
Adding to the Canyon’s go-anywhere ability are roof-mounted auxiliary headlights, colour-contrasting underbody protection and electrically deployed tread plates to help passengers step in and out.
Two carbon fibre kayaks are mounted to the cargo floor, which is specially designed with two formed cut-outs with soft padding and mounted on a high-gloss black styling bar with securing straps. The paddles attach to the inside of the tailgate, while helmets, floatation devices and all other gear can be stowed securely in the cargo area.
Inside, the ‘Baladi Orange’ colour exterior scheme is found on the seatbelts and decorative stitching. Additional auxiliary instruments showing the car’s climbing and tilt angles, provide the driver with additional off-road information.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles head of development Dr Wolfgang Schreiber, says the Amarok Canyon concept uncovers the pick-up’s untapped personalisation potential. It remains to be seen if these recreational goodies will make their way to the Amarok catalogue.
